Cop injured in accident

By jennifer dome
Staff Writer

STEVEN M. BARON South River Patrolman Kevin Nielsen suffered injuries after a Honda (l) collided with the officer’s patrol vehicle at Main Street and Old Bridge Turnpike around 8:30 a.m. last Thursday.

SOUTH RIVER — A borough police officer was injured last week when his patrol vehicle was hit by another car as he responded to a separate motor vehicle accident.

Patrolman Kevin Nielsen suffered injuries to his back, neck and foot when a vehicle traveling west on Main Street hit his police car as he moved through the intersection of Main Street and Old Bridge Turnpike at 8:30 a.m. last Thursday.

With his police lights flashing and siren blaring, Nielsen approached the intersection and slowed down since the traffic light he was approaching was red, according to a police report.

As he proceeded into the intersection, a car driven by Eugene Dushkina, 24, of Rubar Drive in Parlin, hit Nielsen’s car.

Police said Dushkina failed to yield to the police car’s emergency signals, and served him with a motor vehicle summons.

Dushkina refused medical attention at the scene, according to police.

Nielsen was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, by the South River Rescue Squad.

Police officials said Tuesday that Nielsen was feeling better and that he is expected to return to work in the near future.